Disclaimer: I own nothing of BtVS or Angel. Don't sue!
Spoilers: Sleep Tight
Summary: My own version of the Connor/Holtz yadda yadda yadda story. The day Wesley takes Connor, he calls Buffy for help. It sticks mostly to the Sleep Tight script with a few changes I made myself. *Fate & Complications was my first story from this series....kinda like a prolouge because I decided to expand on that story with this one...if you haven't read it, you can find it on my website, http://www.angelfire.com/tv/foreverlove or probably on BA_Fluff yahoo group website.*
Feedback?: Yes please..!
Rating: PG-13/R (language I guess)

About 20 minutes from Los Angeles....

Buffy drove quietly. She was too shocked to feel anything but numbness. Her eyes shot to the side of the road as she drove past a large sign claiming Los Angeles was a mere 10 miles away. She silently told herself to concentrate on the road...she wasn't exactly the best driver in California...she had proven that with her two failed driving tests.

There, she thought soberly, a perfect way to forget what's to come is to think of all the mistakes you've made in the past. She flashed back to her last meeting with Angel. That had been a mistake as well. He had told her he loved her, and she had told him that even if it were possible for them to be together, she wasn't sure it was what she wanted anymore. But it was what she would want, more than life itself, but she hadn't told him that and they had parted ways...probably for good. Guilt and regret had gotten the best of her so she had left a message proclaiming her love as well, and the desire to see him again...and he never called her back. And she had no one to blame for that except herself.

Buffy pulled her mother's jeep to a stop along the curb of Wesley's apartment building. She turned off the engine, staring at the large building before she reluctantly stepped out of the car. Glancing around for any observers, slowly walked across the street. Building 2337 was what he had told her on the phone. Spotting the correct door, she hurried inside and followed the marked apartments until she came to Wesley's. She stood at the threshold, taking a deep breath. She lifted a hand to knock, bracing herself for the inevitable swirl of emotions that were probably going to take place. Before she could knock, however, Wesley flung it open from the other side. He grabbed her arm quickly, pulling her inside and shutting the door behind her.

"Geez, you look terrible." she remarked, studying his unkempt hair and stubble filled face. His eyes reflected hers. Tired. He didn't respond, but looked at her with a mixture of relief and worry. She tried a smile, but failed. "Okay, Wesley, I'm here. Now please explain to me what this is all about." her voice trailed off when she heard the sudden cry. Turning slowly, she saw the small child laying in a white, frilly bassinet. Wesley hurried past her, picking up the baby and softly patting him on his back. He whispered in the baby's ear before looking back towards Buffy. She swallowed, and made her way across the room to where Wesley stood, swaying the baby gently. She reached up to take the baby from Wesley, shooting him a look of trust when he hesitated. Finally he handed her the child.

Tears began to form in Buffy's eyes, but didn't fall. Wide eyed she studied him. He stopped crying when Buffy took him, and they observed each other...she with awe, and he with curiousity. Angel's son.

"So, it's true then." she said aloud, more to herself than Wesley. Wesley watched the Slayer hold the baby with care. Secretly he thought she would resent the child, considering how he came to be, but it seemed to be to be the exact opposite.

"H-His name's Connor..." Wesley told her, walking to the couch where he had placed a suitcase.

"Connor..." she repeated softly. He wasn't even her child, and yet she felt a small bond with him already. He was Angel's... "Wesley, I want to help you, but I can't unless you explain everything to me." she informed him, turning to see him stuff some clothes inside a suitcase.

He nodded quickly as he headed to the bathroom. "There was a prophecy," he called to her, "about Connor. The Nyazian scroll was suppose to tell us what we needed to know...but they were lost in a fire...I researched for days...Connor's birth was foretold but there were still many questions we hadn't had answered..."

"Like whether or not he was here for the good guys?" Buffy asked him, smiling a bit when the baby grasped his tiny hand around her finger.

"Precisely," Wesley said, walking back into the room, throwing some toiletries into the suitcase before closing the top and zipping it quickly, "There's a man, Holtz, who somehow, traveled through time with a demon named Sahjhan, to kill Angel for the horrors he inflicted upon his family, centuries ago, when he was still Angelus..."

"And he's now after Connor," Buffy whispered. Wesley ran his hand through his unruly hair.

"Er...yes...well, you catch on quickly." he said before sliding his arms through his jacket. "To make things worse, Wolfram and Hart, are also after the child...they're just hell bent on killing him."

"Wolfram and Hart?" Buffy asked curiously.

"A law firm," he paused at the raising of her eyebrow, "They're more than that...they're pretty evil actually. They're the ones who have been trying for ages to kill Angel...they even brought Darla back from Hell..."

Buffy absorbed the information when Wesley hurried to her side and took Connor. He wrapped him carefully in a blanket as Buffy began to pace. "There's got to be something more...some bigger motive than revenge," she said, thinking hard, "There's got to be something...somewhere that tells us why Connor is really here. I mean, first vampire baby ever...kind of a big deal, right?"

Wesley nodded. "I could only find out so much without the scrolls...but Buffy...the real reason I called you here...I need your help protecting Connor."

"Of course," Buffy agreed quickly, "I'll take him to Sunnydale, I'm sure Angel will understand...he'll probably even agree that it's best-"

"No!" Welsey interrupted quickly, continuing when Buffy just stared at him, "Angel can't know...he doesn't know you're here, or that you're taking Connor."

"Wesley, what's going on? It doesn't seem right to just take his son without even telling him...ecspecially if all these Big Bad's are after him. It would just make him worry more..." Buffy tried to explain, but Wesley just shook his head, handing her Connor once more.

"Buffy, while I was researching, I came across part of Connor's prophecy. It told me 'the father will kill the son'."

Buffy's eyes widened, her mouth suddenly dry. "W-what? Angel would never do something like that...he..."

"It's a prophecy Buffy, and if we don't take him away, he'll die, by Angel's hands." he picked up the suitcase. "I'm coming with you to Sunnydale...but we have to go now...there's someone who knows what I am doing, and he's bound to wake up any second..."

Buffy shook her head, breathing deeply, "Wesley, this is too much, while I agree that maybe this prophecy can be reversed, because believe me, I've stopped a few in my day, I don't feel right about taking Connor...something's off..."

"Buffy, if we don't take Connor now, he'll die!" Wesley snapped, glaring at her for a moment before exhaling loudly. "I'm sorry...I just haven't slept for days. I just need for you to trust me..please." he pleaded. Buffy looked down at the baby, who had fallen asleep in her arms. It was strange, she didn't feel the pain she thought she would. Angel had created life with another woman...Darla of all people. But it didn't hurt so bad...how could it? He brought Angel some happiness, and he was precious. And if taking him tonight meant saving his life...and helping Angel avoid unbearable pain...

"Okay," she said finally, heading towards the door, "but on the way to Sunnydale, you're telling me everything...every detail about Darla, Holtz and this Shamlingdong guy..."

Wesley nodded, watching her as she headed towards the door to her car. He shut the door, locking it behind him, ignoring the ringing phone inside his apartment. Closing his eyes and whispering a quick prayer, he followed Buffy out.

He hurried past her, opening the backseat to her car and placing Connor's car seat in the middle. He tenderly took him from Buffy's grasp and placed him in the car seat. Before he could buckle the seat belt, he heard a soft moan from across the street. Buffy turned, immediately on her Slayer defense, but she was still surprised to see Wesley raise a gun towards the figure who emerged from the nearby alley.

"Wesley, put the gun down," she hissed at him, but he ignored her.

"That's close enough." he ordered the woman who suddenly stumbled to her knees in the street, sobbing. She looked up, glancing at Buffy, before focusing on Wesley.

"Justine?" he called. Her face was battered and bruised. Tears stained her cheeks and she wiped them away.

"He's everything you said. - It's true." she whispered. Wesley lowered his gun slowly and began walking to her. Buffy looked at him, her eyes widening.

"Wesley, what the hell are you doing?"

"It's okay Buffy..." he called over his shoulder. Buffy shook her head, something didn't feel right to her. A cool breeze brushed through her hair as she watched the two exchange a few words. The young woman stumbled to her feet. She was dressed like Faith, Buffy mused, definitely someone you shouldn't trust.

"He took everybody...and he went after the baby. And when I questioned him...Bastard! I'll kill him for this. You have to get out of here." Justine pleaded with him, blood slowly dripping from her lip. She leaned against Wesley, who pulled back, concerned.

Buffy turned, reaching in the car to buckle the baby seats safety belt. She heard Wesley fall to the ground, and quickly turned in concern.

"Wesley!" she cried, running into the street to him. Justine swiped at Buffy with her knife, but Buffy easily avoided it, and punched the girl in the face. She waited for a moment when Justine hit the pavement, unmoving, before she ran to Wesley's side and kneeled down. His hand was clamped over his throat, blood seeping out from between his fingers.

"Oh my god," she whispered, turning him over onto his back. "Wesley, listen to me, you're going to be okay," she assured him, reaching into his jacket pockets before noticing the cell phone clipped to his jeans. She pulled it out and began to dial 911 when she heard a pair of wheels squeal. Twirling around on her knees, she watched in horror as Justine drove her jeep...and Connor away into the night.

"No!" she screamed, her first instinct to run and chase them. She remembered Wesley and suddenly heard the voice on the other end of the phone. Panicked she described the situation, Wesley's condition and the address before grabbing his keys from his pockets. She set the phone down and looked down at him. "An ambulance is on it's way...don't move okay? I have to leave...I have to go after her, don't worry, everything will be fine." she explained, trying to stay calm. He offered no response, his eyes slowly closing. All he could do is nod softly as Buffy jumped to her feet, unlocking Wesley's own jeep and jumping in. She turned on the engine and slammed her foot on the accelerator in the direction Justine took. If there was ever a time to prove she was an okay driver, now was the time to do it.

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